A fake website, 'Manitoba Mode,' is scamming people by claiming a single mother's clothing warehouse in Flin Flon, Manitoba, was destroyed by wildfires, prompting a 'fire sale.' Flin Flon's mayor confirms no buildings were lost to fire and the store doesn't exist. The scam leverages the ongoing wildfire crisis in Manitoba, using AI-generated images and scraped photos, and advertises on Facebook, raising concerns about social media platform accountability.
A website claims wildfire destroyed a single mom's clothing warehouse. But the store doesn't exist
FacebookManitoba ModeFake websitesScam adsFlin FlonManitobaDavid GerhardGeorge FontaineFiresWildfiresEvacuationsFashion
AI Summary
TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️A fake website, 'Manitoba Mode,' is scamming people by claiming a single mother's clothing warehouse in Flin Flon, Manitoba, was destroyed by wildfires, prompting a 'fire sale.' Flin Flon's mayor confirms no buildings were lost to fire and the store doesn't exist. The scam leverages the ongoing wildfire crisis in Manitoba, using AI-generated images and scraped photos, and advertises on Facebook, raising concerns about social media platform accountability.
Trending- 1 May 28, 2025: Mandatory evacuation order issued for Flin Flon
- 2 May 29, 2025: 'Manitoba Mode' website created
- 3 Just under two weeks prior to June 11, 2025: Manitoba Mode advertising on social media
- 4 June 10, 2025 (Tuesday): 25 active wildfires burning in Manitoba
- 5 June 11, 2025: Article published
- Potential financial loss for consumers
- Reputational damage for Flin Flon
- Increased distrust in online advertising
- Highlights issues with social media platform accountability for scam ads
What: A scam involving a fake website ('Manitoba Mode') claiming a clothing warehouse in Flin Flon, Manitoba, was destroyed by wildfires, and soliciting purchases for a 'fire sale.' The website is fraudulent, using AI-generated and scraped images, and preying on public sympathy during a real wildfire crisis.
When: Published June 11, 2025. Website created May 29 (2025), the day after Flin Flon's mandatory evacuation order. Scam ads appearing on Facebook for just under two weeks. As of Tuesday (June 10, 2025), 25 active wildfires in Manitoba.
Where: Flin Flon, Manitoba (northwestern Manitoba), Winnipeg (630 km southeast of Flin Flon). Website's terms of service mention Netherlands and Asia.
Why: To exploit public sympathy and the ongoing wildfire crisis in Manitoba for financial gain through a fraudulent online store.
How: The scam operates through a fake website ('Manitoba Mode') advertising a 'fire sale' with deep discounts, claiming to be from a single mother whose warehouse was destroyed. It uses AI-generated images and scraped photos, and is promoted via sponsored content on Facebook.